Exclusive interview: Nappytabs at SYTYCD Top 16 show: how they choreographed this week's routines

 Riquel Olander (We Are Heroes) interviews Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo (aka Nappytabs) backstage at So You Think You Can Dance's Top 16 show. They talk about baby gifts, choreographing about parenthood, the Nappytabs sweats, and choreographing for Cyrus & Eliana

Exclusive SYTYCD interview: Brandon & Amber talk about elimination, what's next for them

Riquel Olander (We are Heroes) interviews Brandon and Amber, the two dancers eliminated on this week's So You Think You Can Dance. They talk about having no regrets about their performances,  how this week was their favorite performance on the show, how they helped each other on technique, their plans after SYTYCD, and how to follow them.

Exclusive interview with Brandon Bryant (SYTYCD Season 5) at SYTYCD taping: will there be all stars this season?

 Riquel Olander (We Are Heroes) interviews Brandon Bryant (SYTYCD Season 5) backstage at the taping of So You Think You Can Dance Top 16 show. Brandon talks about how odd it is being back at the So You Think You Can Dance, Dance Day on July 28, and the possibility of all stars at future shows this season.

Join us tonight for So You Think You Can Dance: party room, live play-by-play, surveys & more

We've had numerous requests to extend our coverage to So You Think You Can Dance. We're starting out tonight, and want you to join us.
- From 8-10PM ET, we'll try to have a live play-by-play. We can't afford the new rates on Cover-It-Live, so we'll try to have everything updated in the comments section. If it doesn't work well, we'll try something else next week!
- We'll also have a Party Room post during and after the show where you can comment, predict, vent, and pontificate on anything vaguely related to the show
- Tomorrow we'll have surveys on the favorite and least favorite performances of the night.
- Starting tomorrow, we'll have a new contest with prizes -- Predict the two winners.

I've created a new website - BloggingSYTYCDance.blogspot.com -- for people who like their SYTYCD coverage uncluttered by hip hop focus. Starting tomorrow, I'll have links for these posts there, as well as more targeted coverage of the show (outside recaps, news of the dancers). So, you might want to visit there soon. Hope to see you HERE tonight!

MercerMZ review (with videos): So You Think You Can Dance Top 20 Episode

So last week, the Top 20 of Season 9 took the stage for the first time to show us what they got. And after an exciting showcase, it seemed as though this season might have not only the most diverse group of dancers, but some of the strongest ones too. So tonight, the competition for America's Favorite Guy/Girl began. So how did it go? Who gave the best performances? And how did this week fair in comparison to season before? Let's find out.

Click here to read the review, with videos of the performances. Thanks MercerMZ!

Video: Mighty Mouse - "The Wind Walker"

It's too bad that Shafeek "Mighty Mouse" Westbrook didn't go further on this season's So You Think You Can Dance. It's clear from this video that he could have brought something fresh to the show. From YAKFilms. Thanks for the tip, Ian!

MercerMZ reviews So You Think You Can Dance - Las Vegas Week, with solo highlights

This is MercerMZ here with a full recap of the events in Vegas week for So You Think You Can Dance Season 9. In my last write-up, I said that the week in Vegas is typically a bloodbath for the dancers, and this season was no exception. A total of 181 dancers came into Vegas week with the dream of making that Top 20, and by the end of the week, only 35 dancers still had a shot. So what happened? Who was cut and when? Which choreographers showed to make the dancers work? You're gonna find out right now.
Click here for the full write-up with solo highlights and lots of videos and video links.

MercerMZ's predictions with videos) for So You Think You Can Dance Top 20

According to Cat Dealey, the judges on this season's So You Think You Can Dance sent a total of 181 dancers into Vegas week this season. And just like the last 8 seasons, we can expect it to be a bloodbath with plenty of hard cuts to come. As usual, there's lots of competition heading in and of course, it's not very clear if there are any front-runners. That's not gonna stop me from picking some though. For this segment, I'm gonna make a few predictions for the dancers who I think may fair well through Vegas and make Top 20, based mostly on the auditions.
 
I'll be splitting my picks between both genders into 2 different groups: those who are first time auditioners and those who are returning auditioners. Click here to see my predictions, with videos of their auditions.

MercerMZ review (with videos): So You Think You Can Dance, Salt Lake City auditions

Hello everybody! This is MercerMZ here, bringing you my very first write-up for the blog! Before I continue, I must congratulate 8 Flavahz for making the Final 2 and Elektrolytes for becoming America's Best Dance Crew. I figured since NinjaBoi has been very busy lately, he wouldn't mind if someone else would like to cover the 9th season of So You Think You Can Dance. So without further ado, I turn your attention to the final set of auditions, coming from Salt Lake City, Utah. Just like last week, since this show only focused on one particular city, there were lots of standouts here.

My top pick for the night: Leroy Martinez - (29 yrs. old, from Sacramento, CA) Dancing to Chris Brown's "Yeah x3". Hands down, this was not only my favorite Salt Lake City audition, but also my favorite audition this season! I won't spoil it for you, but let me just say, being a slightly big guy myself, I love watching big guys bust a move. And not just bust a move, but also completely murder their set. Plus, he has such a fantastic personality; By the time it was over, I was standing up and applauding him, along with the audience.

Click here to read and see more of my favorites. And return tomorrow for my predictions of who will do well in the SYTYCD Las Vegas round and make it to the Top 20.

Exclusive: Greg (Stepboys) & Chris interview Lauren Froderman at ABDC: life with Dtrix, mutual secrets

Chris Trondsen  and Greg Saniatan (Stepboys) interview Lauren Froderman (winner of So You think you can Dance Season 7) backstage at America's Best Dance Crew's LMFAO challenge. Lauren talks about being D-trix's girlfriend, her impressions of ABDC and love for Stepboys, what Dtrix is like at home, and whether she'll be involved with SYTYCD. Greg tells a secret about Lauren and Lauren tells secrets about Greg, and they tell how to follow on Facebook, Twitter, websites, Youtube, and Instagram

Video: Russell Ferguson (SYTYCD6 winner) - Krump Fu

Russell Ferguson, winner of So You Think You Can Dance Season 6, demonstrates his krumping skills in a new video called "Krump Fu - The Drunken Master". 

DirtfaceX's review on Steelo 444 Fundraiser, w/ red carpet interview video of dozens of hiphop dance stars!

On December 6, 2011, the friends and family of Richard “Steelo” Vazquez held a historical fundraiser in support for their loved one in need. Steelo had suffered from a ruptured brain aneurysm back in June, and miraculously endured a total of three hemorrhages. This unprecedented night brought together some of the biggest names in dance featuring performances by The SUPERwockeez, The Beat Freaks, Team iLuminate, The LXD, B-boy Cloud, Twitch, and many others. All proceeds from the show went to the Vazquez family to aid in their medical bills. I was fortunate enough to attend this amazing show, and I must say... it was truly a once in a lifetime event. CLICK HERE to read more about my experiences at the show including some of great talents I met, and reviews of the performances. 

This video has clips of red carpet interviews with dozens of dancers (including many from ABDC) who came out to perform or attend the fundraiser, including JabbaWockeeZ, Super Cr3w, Beat Freaks, the LXD, Team iLuminate, Instant Noodles, Nigel Lithgoe, John Chu, and Affion Crockett.


If you want to learn more about Steelo and keep updated on his condition- including a soon to be released documentary shot during the event- visit Steelo444.com

Watch "Mobbed" dance segments here with members of Fanny Pak, AIM, Blueprint Cru, SYTYCD, Femme 5

"Mobbed" is a Fox series that is co-directed and choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo. It features very emotional plots of people trying to dramatize major life events (marriage proposals, pregnancy announcements, reveal of birth parentage) via flash mobs, as well as exposition on how to use flash mobs to make the occasion even more fraught with emotion and drama. Many of you will want to skip past the tears and staged drama (not to mention the ads) to get straight to the dancing. You're in luck, we watch it all for you!

The latest episode involved an 'accomplice' named Ion trying to make up to 'marks' (also his daughter and wife) for abandoning them with a flash mob apology. Really. The professional dancers include alums of America's Best Dance Crew: most members of Fanny Pak, plus members of Blueprint Cru, Femme 5, and Artistry in Motion. There are also alums from So You Think You Can Dance including Neil Haskell, Jason Glover and Lauren Gotlieb. So, if you want the full episode, click here. Here are the two full dance sequences.

KoopaTV | Dance Clip of the Day: "Remote Kontrol"

Hey! Today we're headed over to Georgia! This episode brings us to an amazing short film, featuring the amazing Remote Kontrol Crew: iGlide, Chibi, and Nonstop.

These 3 dancers have made quite the impact on the dance scene. First blowing up, with their performance on So You Think You Can Dance, and then putting out one of the most viral dance videos ever, with Nonstop's "Pumped Up Kicks" video.

Congrats on what I assume will become another viral video:

Thanks JabbaJake and Ninjaboi for this amazing clip!

: : : Submissions for tomorrow's "Dance Clip of the Day" are always open, by Youtube message at www.youtube.com/KoopaOviasu : : :

***Submissions can be no older than TWO WEEKS!***

Don't forget to vote in the KoopaTV Poll for your favorite video of last week!

KoopaTV, signing off.

Congratulations to Napoleon & Tabitha D'umo on their Emmy win!

Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo (aka Nappytabs) tied for an  2011 Emmy Award in choreography. They won for their work on So You think You Can Dance for :Scars”,  “Fallin”, and  “Outta Your Mind”. Click here for "Outta Your Mind" danced by Alex and Twitch -one of my favorite SYTYCD hip hop routines ever; click here to watch "Scars" danced by D-trix and Robert.  And here's "Fallin", danced by Adechike and Comfort. 

Mia Michaels also won a choreography Emmy for her work on SYTYCD, with her "Alice in Mia-land", "When We Dance", and "This Bitter Earth/on the nature of Daylight". I am disappointed that no award was given to Stacy Tookey for one of my all-time favorite SYTYCD routines -- "Mad World" danced by Billy and Aday. Click here to watch

Check out the new District 78 album with LXD & SYTYCD tunes: Radios at Reception

District 78, the force behind music on America's Best Dance Crew, as well as tunes heard on So You Think You Can Dance and The LXD, released a new album called "Radios at Reception." It opened strong last week, hovering in the Top 10 on the Electronic Music Charts. Click here to check it out and purchase.

Congratulations to Melanie for winning SYTYCD - now help pick her G Fit ad!

Contemporary dancer Melanie Moore won So You Think You Can Dance Season 8. Among her prizes: a print ad for G Fit, an energy drink from Gatorade, to run in Dance Spirit Magazine (and probably elsewhere). Click here to vote for the ad you think should be used to represent her and the athleticism of the dance community. 

Here's one of my Melanie performances -- dancing with all-star Neill Haskell to "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (also available here)

Video: Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (LXD) on SYTYCD Top 8 Results Show

The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (LXD) were the dance highlight of the results show for the So You Think You Can Dance Top 8 Results show. LXD Season 3 will debut on Hulu on August 11, 2011. Also: click here to watch the solo 'dance for his life' by hip-hop dancer Tadd; this peformance helped him make it through to the next week.

Video: Hiphop on SYTYCD's Top 8 show

Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo (Nappytabs) and Marty Kudelka choreographed several hip hop routines for the So You Think You Can Dance Top 8 show. My favorite (despite judge Lady Gaga's criticism of the props: Nappytab's choreography of P.Diddy's "Bad Boy for Life" danced by Marko and Ricky. Other hip hop routines for the night: Rihanna's "Take a Bow" danced by Jess and Lauren G., choreographed by Nappytabs (click to watch); Mario's "Let me love you" danced by Caitlynn and Ivan (click to watch), choreographed by Kudelka. Videolinks from trandrew.com

Videos: Blueprint Cru members dance and choreograph on SYTYCD US & Canada

Every season of So You Think You Can Dance Canada has had one or two members of Blueprint Cru on the top 20. Again this new season, Blueprint Cru is on board. Steve Bolton choreographed on the first week of SYTYCD Canada Season 4. He created an amazing duo that had the crowd and judges screaming!
 

Also, Blueprint Cru member Kim Gingras performed on SYTYCD US on the result show with artist Nicole Scherzinger: